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Ah, the sweet smell of spring! We’re sure you can’t wait for backyard barbecues, camping and hiking trips, and simply playing outside with your dog. However, the warm weather brings with it a danger to our pets: ticks and tick borne diseases.

Ticks can survive the winter just fine indoors – even in your garage – so it’s important to prevent these pests year round. With that in mind, the team at New Haven Pet Hospital wants to arm you with helpful information to combat ticks and tick borne diseases.

Ticks 101

The tick is not an insect but an arachnid closely related to a spider. Ticks can be found in every U.S. state and are most active in the spring and fall. In general, they prefer dark, moist, brushy places in which to lay their eggs, but they also commonly “quest” for hosts in tall grasses and shrubs.

Tick bites are painful and irritating, but the real danger lies in the tick borne diseases they transmit. These diseases can cause serious issues in both pets and people and are often difficult to diagnose. Continue…

When you get a new pet or if you’re thinking about adopting one, you may be wondering if you need to spay or neuter them. At New Haven Pet Hospital, we believe that spaying or neutering your pet is one of the greatest gifts you can give, and the benefits of this procedure are worth it. Time and again, we see both our pets and our community thrive with this safe and effective procedure. Let us tell you why.

Among all the incredible benefits that come with routine pet wellness exams, heartworm testing is at the top of the list. This common practice gives us insight into whether your pet’s parasite prevention is up to par and provides us the opportunity to make any necessary changes.

It’s sometimes fun to play guessing games. Whether it’s guessing someone’s age or what a distant relative would like for their birthday, it’s often entertaining to figure out life’s little mysteries.

However, one thing you don’t want to wonder about is whether your pet ate something harmful. Warning signs can range from subtle to scary, but one thing is certain: knowing what to look for in a pet poisoning is one way to save your pet’s life.

There are a few life hacks to make sure changes stick, but it doesn’t ever happen overnight. In fact, some changes can take 2 months or more to weasel their way into our daily habits. Pet dental care is sort of like that. Neither pets nor their owners readily take to daily or weekly tooth brushing, but after a while, the whole exercise is so normal and natural you can breeze right through it.

There are lots of curious cat behaviors, such as scratching, purring, and claiming every cardboard box in the house. But,kneading, or making biscuits, is probably one of the most endearing – yet perplexing – feline traits of them all. Sure, it’s cute and sweet –unless the claws come out, that is – but why exactly do cats knead?

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly…” Wait. Did you just say holly? Holly, like some other seasonal favorites, is actually toxic to pets. And while your kids are secretly shaking their holiday gifts in hopes of guessing the contents, are your dogs doing a little investigating of their own?

This may seem like a Scrooge-like introduction, but there is very good reason behind considering these things. Holidays tend to present a few more risks to our pets, and some of our timeless holiday decorations and decor can take a terrible twist when pet owners are unaware of them.

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for all the amazing things (and people) we have in our lives…but let’s be serious, it’s also all about the food. Thanksgiving is the holiday for feasting with friends and family. And there’s no doubt about it, this evening of eating is also likely to pique the curiosity of the family pet.

No true holiday is complete without sharing the festivities with our pets – especially ones that include amazing food. Many of us feel a little guilty about not sharing at least a tiny bit of turkey dinner with our furry companions. Unfortunately, some of the things we enjoy are items that can cause everything from tummy upset to a pet poisoning emergency.

Okay, so maybe it’s not really an age-old question; but any dog owner who has been up at 1 AM Googling why their pooch is limping has probably pondered the difference between the two conditions: Hip dysplasia or luxating patella?

So what, then, is the difference? Let New Haven Pet Hospital fill you in.

Hip Dysplasia or Luxating Patellas: Different Parts

The main thing that differentiates hip dysplasia or luxating patellas is the fact that they affect totally different joints.

Cats are sometimes considered to be low maintenance. Put down some food and water, place a litter box in the corner, and you’re good, right? Actually, no! While cats are not necessarily the most demanding of pets, they do deserve attention, especially when it comes to veterinary care.

Here is what your friends at New Haven want you to know about cat care.